The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-10-20
BARRoN's MURDERER FOUND.
Belief That the Perpetrators ofthe Dex-
ter. Me-, Tragedy are in Custody.

| Belief That the Perpetrators of tho Dex-
ter. Me-, Tragedy are In Custody.
The n Y. Evening World publishes con-
fession by Charles Francis Stain concerning
! the murder of Cashier j. w. Barron of the
National Savings Bank at Dexter, Me-, on
Feb. %, 1878, and the robbery of the bank
Barron was found on the evening of that
| holiday, lying bleeding and unconscious in
the bank vault The door Of the vault was
open, but the funds were untouched, and only
$500 in money and a $500 bond were missing
| from the cash drawer. The story was started
that Barron had committed suicide to avoid
exposure of some misconduct toward the
bank, but this was never proved.
| The World says that young man named
Charles Francis Stain has now made state
ment that he and his father, David Stain,
with Oliver Smith, alias Cromwell, a we'll
known criminal. and four men named An
drews Thompson, Scott and Keely, were i'm
plicated in the crime. They had procured
impressions Of all the locks in the building
where the bank was located, and
took advantage of the holiday, when
the building seemed deserted, to
gain entrance by false keys:
On opening the vault room door, David
Stain found himself face to face with Barron
/ "Instantly and without word y says young
Stain, father pulled slungShot from his
| pocket and struck Barron on the head until
! he was unconscious. Neither father nor
Cromwell dared to make an examination of
the contents of the vaults. Father unlocked
the money drawer, and gathered up what
loose money there was there, amounting to a
title less than $500 and thrust a $500 bond
nto his pocket"
Young Stain had waited at Bingham, a
lew miles away, with a wagon. All found
their way thirher, and drove to Scion, Ne,
where they separated. Young Stain heard
all the details of the robbery from his father
and Cromwell He believes that some of the
gang started the story of Barron's defalca-
selves.
| Stain and Cromwell were arraigned for
preliminary hearing on the 18th inst before
Trial Justice L. B. Waldron of Dexter and
both pleaded guilty. Counsel for state asked
for continuance of the case until October
%, and the same was accordingly granted
and the prisoners remanded to jail
at Bangor until that time.
The town is shaken to its depths by theo-
ries of the affair and the story of Stain is
generally disbelieved Several citizens of
Dexter claim to fully identify the men and
claim them to be the strangers in town on
the night of the tragedy.
Andrews was discharged, as Sheriff Mitch
ell was satisfied he knew nothing of the
affair.
Fresh developments and tending to prove
the truth of young Stains confessions. Ad-
ditional statements by him implicate the
gang" and his father particularly, in many
other SHADY" affairs. Grimes that have
long been hidden are laid at their door and
their ground of action has included both
Massachusetts and Maine
Young Stain says he told all he knew. The
cause OF his willingness to talk is said to be
the influence of a ghost OF the murdered
Barron. which has visited him. he claims
and has broken the silence of nine years.
Included in the category of crimes of which
they are held responsible is the murder Of
old Mr.. Messenger of Norfolk, Mass, some
l. or Is years ago; the poisoning of MIR.
! Steel of Medfeld, Mass, and man named
Hammond of the same town. They are also
credited with smuggling horses over the
Canadian border, counterfeiting and Illicit
| distilling.
The people of Dexter, and in fact, nearly
everywhere in the whole state of Maine, are
absorbed in the details of the murder of
Cashier Barron as they appear in print, and
additional facts are awaited with Impotence.
Opinion, except in few marked cases, has
changed from one of doubt and uncertainty
to almost positive belief that Barron was
murdered, and that the men who robbed him
of his life and caused his honor to be tar
nished with the breath of suspicion are now
in the strong hands OF the law. The
change in public sentiment is most marked,
and it augurs i'll for the men who stand
charged with the crime. But there
seems to exist a small minority of men who
will not be convinced. The fact that the
officials of the Dexter Savings Bank have
permitted its counsel to appear for the men
and that Lawyer Drumlnond of Portland IS
preparing their defence is matter which
| has created considerable unfavorable com
| 10 that's cprtnip j.
nent man has said, ~ do not believe it. If |
knew it to be true, would not admit it," 1t
1 looks as if considerable effort is to be made
to protect Stain and Cromwell Smith in GER
| tain quarters, with result that CANNOT
safely be prophesied at this time.